Alexandria Fire Department Celebrates EMS Week

May 19 at 9:00am the Inova Alexandria Hospital will sponsor a breakfast honoring EMS personnel. Alexandria’s Mayor William D. Euille will read the EMS Week Proclamation followed by an award ceremony and a short in-service training session on Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVAs).

May 20, EMS personnel will set up informative displays at Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street and the Patient Trade Office Building, 600 Dulany Street near the King Street Metro from 10am to 2pm.

On Saturday, May 21, EMS personnel will be at the City’s Farmers Market in front of City Hall, 301 King Street from 6:00am to 10:00am.

On Saturday, May 21, EMS personnel will be at the Bradlee Shopping Center, 3600 block of King Street; Foxchase Shopping Center, 4500 block of Duke Street; and in front of the Target at the Potomac Yards Shopping Center, 3671 Jefferson Davis Highway from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

At all locations EMS personnel will be on hand to discuss the importance of what to do in case of a medical emergency and offer advise on how to prevent these events from occurring.

This year May 15 to 21, 2011 is Emergency Medical Service Week. The City of Alexandria prides itself on its Emergency Medical System (EMS) level and quality of care from its providers. This year EMS Week places emphasis on Learning Instructions For Emergencies or L.I.F.E. The City’s EMS personnel have developed a brochure which will be available and distributed during EMS Week. This brochure provides a brief description of life threatening conditions, what to look for, and what to do until help arrives. The conditions covered within the brochure are Cardiac Emergencies, Poisoning, Diabetes, Trauma, Allergic Reactions, Stroke, and Seizures.

On Thursday, May 19 at 9:00am the Inova Alexandria Hospital will sponsor a breakfast honoring EMS personnel. Alexandria’s Mayor William D. Euille will read the EMS Week Proclamation followed by an award ceremony. A short in-service training session on Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVAs) presented by the Inova Alexandria Hospital Stroke Center will highlight this year’s breakfast.

On Friday, May 20, 2011 EMS personnel will set up informative displays at City Hall and around the Patient Trade Office Building near the King Street Metro from 10am to 2pm. EMS personnel will distribute brochures, offer to test blood sugar levels, blood pressures and perform Electrocardiograms.

Friday evening, May 20, the National Memorial EMS Bike Ride’s “Muddy Angels” will be conclude in Alexandria. Two memorial rides began on May 14th, one in Paintsville, Kentucky and another in Boston, Massachusetts. They will join together to conclude their ride, bringing recognition to those lost in the line of duty while providing EMS care. Riders are expected to begin arriving in Alexandria at approximately 6:00pm and conclude their ride as one large group at the Alexandria Westin, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, Virginia. More information regarding these bike rides can be found at http://www.muddyangels.org

On Saturday, May 21, EMS personnel will be at the City’s Farmers Market in front of City Hall, 301 King Street from 6:00am to 10:00am. Additional EMS personnel will set up displays and information booths at the Bradlee Shopping Center, 3600 block of King Street; Foxchase Shopping Center, 4500 block of Duke Street; and in front of the Target at the Potomac Yards Shopping Center, 3671 Jefferson Davis Highway from 10:00am to 2:00pm. At all locations EMS personnel will be on hand to discuss the importance of what to do in case of a medical emergency and offer advise on how to prevent these events from occurring.

Please visit one of locations or events as the Alexandria Fire Department continues to educate the community on the importance of recognition and prevention of medical emergencies.